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I'm not talking about people on CD. I am talking about people in my own life. Stuff I've been saying for years, sometimes decades. When do I ever lambaste people on CD for asking for advice?
But I do indeed have issues with people who have magical thinking and who act like living for today is the only thing that matters. And I don't apologize for giving those folks a hard time. Life is going to give most of those folks a much harder time than anything I can say on CD.
The problem with that statement above mysticltyger is that you really have no idea why a particular person has not arrived at the golden goal post financially ready. Whether they are people who posses the magical thinking mentality is really an unknown to you. And even if you did know, like you say, "Life is going to give most of those folks a much harder time than anything you can say on CD"
And my suggestion is if you can't deal with it, and have a tendency to lump all these people in the same basket, then perhaps it is better to move on to the next post where you might be able to offer something constructive.
The problem with that statement above mysticltyger is that you really have no idea why a particular person has not arrived at the golden goal post financially ready. Whether they are people who posses the magical thinking mentality is really an unknown to you. And even if you did know, like you say, "Life is going to give most of those folks a much harder time than anything you can say on CD"
And my suggestion is if you can't deal with it, and have a tendency to lump all these people in the same basket, then perhaps it is better to move on to the next post where you might be able to offer something constructive.
Sorry, Modhatter, but I don't believe you read Mysticaltyger's post very carefully. He specified that he was talking about people in his own life who are personally known to him.
I, too, have been guilty of misreading stuff, so I don't intend to be supercilious. However, this is a real good illustration of how stuff gets off track.
Sorry, Modhatter, but I don't believe you read Mysticaltyger's post very carefully. He specified that he was talking about people in his own life who are personally known to him.
I, too, have been guilty of misreading stuff, so I don't intend to be supercilious. However, this is a real good illustration of how stuff gets off track.
Thank you Escort Rider. I did read her first sentence referencing people in her life, but thought the second paragraph "On the Other Hand" along with the very last sentence, was disconnected from the first sentence. But if I misunderstood it's meaning, than I certainly owe Mysticaltyger an apology and hope that they will forgive my misinterpretation.
When anyone typically posts anything about having enough to retire on, it appears everyone on this board has enough, whether through pensions, double social security checks or larger portfolios. Yet statistically, many more people do not have enough to retire.
So how is it we never hear from them? Does the subject matter of this forum "Retirement" only attract people who are in a position to retire? Are there not people on here who would like to retire, but feel they can't? Are they afraid to speak up, or are they just not interested in the subject matter so they never come on this forum?
Yeah, you hear from them. You might not be paying attention though. People have often posted in answer to how they have retired on a shoestring which was actually a thread topic as to how they did it until the thread got kind of taken over by those whose shoestrings were pretty well heeled.
I have posted my story of how I had my very substantial 401k stolen by the investment company that handled it for my union, lost my job, got another, became disabled went on SSI and then went on regular retirement. Over time, much of what I had left went to paying medical bills and rent. But mostly medical bills.
I had planned to work until at least 70 but life happened. I didn't have enough to retire according to statistics and many people who would look at my assets but I had no choice. Just last year I had to move from a city in which I could no longer afford the ever increasing COL to one in which I could.
So that's my story. I don't think I am the only one to share their story of this nature. As to why I don't post here much does have something to do with financial topics. I find that many threads deal with pre-retirement and how to save for it. That isn't in my realm of interest. That also includes what people should do with their homes, sell them buy new ones or keep them. Then there are questions of how should they invest their money. Etc. Etc. It's all about the money. I can't relate. So I'm all over CD but not here very often.
I have often seen on this forum where someone will comment they are living on SS only or some other small means and right away someone else will chastise them for making poor financial decisions or squandering their money when they had the chance to save it. Sometimes true but not always. Still the accusers like to make assumptions without first asking. I for one get tired of explaining there are all different circumstances in which people are unable to save or have saved but lost what they had.
So that is another deterrent for people like me who don't have enough saved for retirement to come on and post about how I am living primarily on SS and a small pension. Some people can't imagine that sometimes no matter how earnestly a person saves, there is no guarantee things will turn out as planned. People like me get tired of explaining Life to those who believe if you follow a set formula everything will work out as planned.
I am 2.5 years from retirement and will have little income. I have fretted about this for a few years now. However, after reading your post twice, I am inspired and will follow in your footsteps re: positive attitude. Thanks so much for posting.
To anyone who feels 'bad' about not having "enough" saved for retirement.....if you'e been a survivor of some of the hardest knocks life can throw at you, take pride in THAT. You're still here...and others are not. And you're not going down and out without a fight. I know fighting or responding to and dealing with the comments of people who are ignorant of your circumstances can be "tiring"...but shake that off....and live as "abundantly" as YOU can. That's all any of us can do anyway.
I am 2.5 years from retirement and will have little income. I have fretted about this for a few years now. However, after reading your post twice, I am inspired and will follow in your footsteps re: positive attitude. Thanks so much for posting.
Really. It's hard to get past "living between the redwoods and the ocean".
To anyone who feels 'bad' about not having "enough" saved for retirement.....if you'e been a survivor of some of the hardest knocks life can throw at you, take pride in THAT. You're still here...and others are not. And you're not going down and out without a fight. I know fighting or responding to and dealing with the comments of people who are ignorant of your circumstances can be "tiring"...but shake that off....and live as "abundantly" as YOU can. That's all any of us can do anyway.
I totally agree with this.
If you have survived, then that means you have whatever internal resources you need to deal with a less than ideal financial situation.
That is definitely a call for commendation.
RDFLK is right. Stay optimistic. Attitude is everything!!! Things have a way of falling in place.
The moral of the story is, you don't need big bucks to retire. You can do it on little bucks if you do it carefully. It's all about not listening to the smug voices on the outside that tell you otherwise but rather listening to the smart voices on the inside that got you successfully through the crises the life situations that brought you to where you are.
There is never "enough." Enough is whatever you have.
To anyone who feels 'bad' about not having "enough" saved for retirement.....if you'e been a survivor of some of the hardest knocks life can throw at you, take pride in THAT. You're still here...and others are not. And you're not going down and out without a fight. I know fighting or responding to and dealing with the comments of people who are ignorant of your circumstances can be "tiring"...but shake that off....and live as "abundantly" as YOU can. That's all any of us can do anyway.
To this I would add that if you have learned how to take advantage of public resources available to you, then don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it. Those resources were put into place by society to help those who need them.
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